Swimming in an ‘Olympic length’ 50m pool does provide a difficult challenge to swimmers from clubs such as Hythe that do not have regular access to such a facility, but Hythe Aqua’s small squad of Maureen and Chris Fakley, and daughter Donna Wickens, acquitted themselves tremendously well to come home with medals from every event in which they competed.

Maureen, swimming in the 70-74 years age group, was again top of Hythe’s medal table, winning 3 gold medals in her specialist 400m individual medley and the 50m and 100m butterfly events. She added silvers in both the 200m individual medley and 200m breaststroke, and raced to a bronze in the 200m backstroke.

Donna, swimming in the highly competitive 40-44 years group, held off strong competition to win a silver medal in the 50 butterfly and then bronzes in the 50m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m butterfly and 400m individual medley.

Chris was not to be left out of the family’s medal haul, and competing in the 70-74 years age group he came away with bronze medals in both his freestyle events, the 100m and 200m, smashing his personal best times in the process.

The next challenge for the family is to join with the rest of Hythe Aqua’s Masters squad to try to win the Kent County Team Championship trophy for the 3rd consecutive year.